Parent Tips

25 Tips to Find the Best Childcare

1)  Daycare providers should build your child’s self-esteem by through warm loving guidance.  Their care center should offer safe and enriching activities for your child.  It should be a caring environment for your child.

2)  Look for low staff turnover rates.  Consistency is an important part of the development of your child’s self esteem.  They need to be able to bond to staff members and trust that they will be there for awhile.

3)  Look for a clean well organized room.  There should be separate play areas for messy art work, make believe, reading books, puzzles and other games.  Toys should be easily reached and stored by the children.

4)  Look for safe outdoor play equipment.  It should be intricate enough for your child to hone their coordination on, but safe and well put together.

5)  Make sure that if meals and snacks are provided, they are nutritious and enough to keep your child’s energy up.

6)  A good daycare should have a planned consistent routine.   It should be able to offer planned age appropriate activities that include indoor and outdoor play time.

7)  Activities should focus on the development of your child’s fine and gross motor skills.  They should also focus on the development of creativity, musical ability, and cognitive skills.  There should also be free play time to allow the child a chance to pursue their own personal interests.

8)  The daycare should offer scheduled nap times.  It should also allow for a quiet comfortable place to sleep.

9)  When looking for the right daycare, start early.  Allow yourself enough time to do proper thorough research.  This will not only allow you to make the most informed decision possible, it will also cut down on some of the stress.

10)  Work out your budget ahead of time.  Be aware of what you can afford, and start your search by looking within that price range.  A home daycare may be more affordable than a center.

11)  Make a list of things that are important to you and your child.  The list might include location, hours and amount of outside activity allowed.

12)  Have a list of questions prepared ahead of time for the provider.  You may want to know how many children they have versus staff members.  Remember your child will get more attention the lower the ratio.

13)  Ask for copies of the provider’s license and the credentials of the staff members.  It is important to know the qualifications of the people who will be watching your child. 

14)  Visit the daycare more than once and at different times of the day.  Centers should welcome frequent visits from parents.

15)  Ask to see required certificates such as fire, health and building.  Also all staff members should be CPR certified.  These certificates should be presented willingly by the provider.  If they do not have them, don’t send your child there.

16)  Observe interactions between the children and the providers.  Look to see if the children seem happy and engaged in their activities.  Make sure the provider answers their questions.

17)  Ask the provider questions about their background.  Ask them why they chose to enter into this profession, and if they plan on changing anytime soon.  Ask them what they believe children need in order to be happy and comfortable.  Make sure you are comfortable with their answers.  If not, move on.

18)  Once your child is attending, stay inconstant contact.  Ask how they are adjusting, and how well they are progressing.  Ask what activities they did that day and what your child participated in.

19)  Pay attention to your child’s behavior.  Your child is the best indicator whether the situation is working.  Ask your child what they think of their daycare, of their teachers.

20)  Ask the provider how they discipline the children.  Discipline should be positive, consistent and fair.  It should never be physical.

21)  Make sure the children are supervised at all time of the day with adequate staffing.  This includes naptime as well.

22)  Make sure the caregivers wash their hands after each diaper change.  They should also clean and disinfect the diaper changing station after each use.

23)  Make sure the caregiver has toys and activities that will be age appropriate for your child and their needs.

24)  The cleaning supplies should be in locked cabinets out of the reach of children.  Poison control information should also be clearly posted.

25)  Make sure the childcare has an emergency evacuation plan.  Find out what kind of emergencies they are prepared for.  Also make sure they drill their evacuation plan at least once a month.